Agriculture: Farmland

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Hilary Benn, on 6 November (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 346), where the protection of productive farmland has been placed on the Environment Agency's priority list; whether it is prioritised countrywide; and, if not, in what areas it has been downgraded.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Environment Agency prioritises investments in flood and coastal risk management projects on the basis of their contributions to meet national outcome measure targets set by Defra. Agricultural benefits are typically quantified, along with a wide range of other benefits, in economic analyses and contribute to outcome measure 1 (economic benefits). This means that the protection of productive farmland, alongside other benefits, is reflected in the scheme priority.
	Defra issued guidance in May 2008 which provides an improved basis for the valuation of agricultural land and output for appraisal purposes and the Environment Agency published its proposed prioritisation approach in August 2008. These are both applied consistently across England.

Airports: Heathrow

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the reply by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 4 June (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 149), what changes they have introduced to raise standards of care in the short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport.

Lord West of Spithead: As per the previous Answer, an action plan has been introduced to address the recommendations accepted by the UK Border Agency to address those issues raised in the first annual report by the Independent Monitoring Board for Heathrow.
	A number of improvements have been made, which include the creation of separate rooms for families and vulnerable people in all of the holding facilities, the provision of hot meals and an improved range of snacks, and a range of toys and activities for children held with their parents. Toiletry packs are also being sourced for those detainees who arrive without luggage.
	The escorting contractor has established a working group to improve standards of detainee care, which is attended by officials from the agency; welfare issues also feature regularly on the agenda for meetings with the contractor.

Airports: Heathrow

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 6 May (WA 41—42) on the feasibility of installing showers in the holding room at Terminal 5 and the facility which will replace the removals room in Queen's Building at Heathrow Airport, whether such showers have now been installed.

Lord West of Spithead: It has been decided that it is not feasible to install showers in the holding room at Terminal 5. The facility which will replace the removals room in Queen's Building at Heathrow Airport will have showers when it opens in March 2009.
	In the mean time there is currently a shower in the removals room at Queen's Building.

Armed Forces: Equipment

Lord Astor of Hever: To ask Her Majesty's Government what matters are taken into account by the Ministry of Defence in planning for the through-life capability management of new equipment.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Through-life capability management translates the requirements of defence policy into an approved programme that delivers the required capabilities, through life, to the front line. In developing the programme, the department balances future capability requirements, with commercial, industrial, financial and research considerations, across all defence lines of development.

Armed Forces: War Pensions

Lord Craig of Radley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to seek a time limitation on armed forces veterans' claims or appeals made under war pensions and compensation legislation pre-dating the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004; and, if so, for what reasons.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: Since 9 April 2001 the War Pension Scheme has had in place time limits for making appeals against entitlement and all other (specified) decisions.
	We have no current plans to seek a time limitation on claims for a war pension. We are in the early stages of a review of the war pension scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose for the next stage of its existence. Any proposals for change to the War Pension Scheme, whether arising from the review or otherwise, would be subject to formal consultation with the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation, which is the usual mechanism for consulting on matters relating to war pensions.

Aviation: Flights to Pakistan

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons flew direct (a) from the United Kingdom to Pakistan, and (b) from Pakistan to the United Kingdom, in the past 12 months.

Lord Adonis: Latest monthly data available from the Civil Aviation Authority show that in the past 12 months (October 2007 to September 2008) there were 384,000 passengers who flew direct from the UK to Pakistan, and 390,000 passengers who flew direct from Pakistan to the UK.

Bees

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 26 November (WA 295), how the estimates of the average incomes of beekeepers were calculated.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The average incomes of beekeepers were derived from estimates published in the economic evaluation carried out by ADAS Consulting Ltd in 2001, namely a total revenue per annum of £2.6 million for the 400 commercial bee farmers and £8.7 million for the 32,900 non-commercial bee keepers.

British Shipbuilders

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the reports and accounts for 2002—03, 2004—05, 2005—06 and 2006—07 of British Shipbuilders were not laid before Parliament until 30 October 2008; and whether the report and accounts for 2003—04 have been laid.

Baroness Vadera: It is not clear whether those British Shipbuilders reports and accounts listed above were laid before Parliament. However, when the department laid the 2007-08 report and accounts, it was advised that others were missing. We then took immediate action to remedy the situation and ensured all missing reports and accounts were placed before Parliament on 30 October.
	We can confirm that the 2003-04 report and accounts were laid before Parliament on 14 July 2005.

Buses

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local authorities are receiving less in Government grants for operating the concessionary bus fare scheme than it costs them to operate; and what is the greatest shortfall.

Lord Adonis: The Government are confident that there is sufficient funding in total for statutory concessionary fares.
	Additional funding of £212 million, £217 million and £223 million will be provided to local authorities over the next three years to cover the extra cost of the new concession. This brings the total spending on concessionary fares to approximately £1 billion per year.
	The special grant is solely to cover the additional cost of the new concession. Funding for the existing elements of the concession, which make up the bulk of the costs, will continue to be provided through revenue support grant and is not separately identified.

Census

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what preparations they have made for the 2011 Census.

Lord Patel of Bradford: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply to the noble Lord. A copy of its response will be placed in the Library.

Census

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reviewed the 2001 Census; if so, what that review concluded; and what instructions they gave the Office for National Statistics or its successor as a result.

Lord Patel of Bradford: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply to the noble Lord. A copy of its response will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Hanningfield dated 18 December 2008.
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Questions asking what preparations have been made for the 2011 Census and whether a review of the 2001 Census was conducted, what the review concluded and what instructions have been given to the Office for National Statistics. (HL297, HL298)
	There have been a number of extensive reviews of the 2001 Census, including those by the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee and Public Accounts Committee. In addition there were reviews by the National Audit Office, the former Statistics Commission and other bodies such as the Local Government Association. All these reviews have been published. In summary, some of the key issues raised in these reviews covered the need to:
	develop robust field management and torn-tracking systems to enable better central control of field processes and activities;agree earlier those contractual arrangements with external suppliers for aspects of the census operation that are to be outsourced, and ensure that all such suppliers are selected through rigorous procurement procedures and early enough so that systems are able to be fully tested before the Census; anddevelop a high quality and up-to-date address list to increase the efficiency of the delivery of Census forms.
	We also conducted our own post-census evaluations and the main findings of all these reviews were set out in the general report on the 2001 Census published in 2005 and laid before Parliament. The conclusions from all these reviews have helped to shape the design of the 2011 Census.
	On Thursday 11 December the White Paper on the 2011 Census Helping to Shape Tomorrow was published. This sets out the UK Statistics Authority's proposals which include a number of major changes in the design for 2011, primarily:
	new questions are proposed on: national identity; citizenship; second residences; language; civil partnership status; and (for non-UK born) date of arrival into the UK and length of intended stay, to meet changing needs for more information on, for example, short-term economic migration and social identity and diversity;returning the completed information online—we estimate that 20-30 per cent of households will respond in this way;Census forms will be delivered to around 95 per cent of households by post. They will, however be delivered in areas with high levels of multi-occupied addresses; an innovative form-tracking system to control the field operation;the contactor for the main data processing activities was appointed in 2008 in time to work on the 2009 rehearsal; following a successful trialling in the 2007 Census test, the recruitment, training and payment of field staff will be outsourced; anda comprehensive address register is being developed to facilitate improved form delivery and field management.
	Copies of the White Paper were laid in Parliament and it can also be accessed from this link which also includes the news release: www.ons.gov.uk/census/2011-census/news-and-events/index.html.

Charities: Fraud

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Patel of Bradford on 17 December (WA 37), where an allegation of fraud involving a charity comes from a serious source, but is hearsay, and can be investigated and proved or disproved by a study of the accounts of the relevant charity for an identified past year, what factors determine whether such an investigation is carried out by the Charity Commission.

Lord Patel of Bradford: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the commission to reply.
	Letter from Andrew Hind, Chief Executive, Charity Commission, to Lord Morris of Manchester, dated 7 January 2009.
	As the chief executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on the commission's response in cases of alleged fraud.
	As outlined in my response to your previous Question, any allegation of fraud or other financial abuse is a matter of serious concern to the commission. Our response will depend on the facts of the case but will align with the criteria within our published risk and proportionality framework.
	Using this framework, we rapidly assess the most appropriate and proportionate course of action to take. This means we will determine whether we will engage further with the issue, the level of priority, attention and the resources we give to it and where in the commission it will be dealt with. This is based on the particular circumstances, the seriousness and scale of the problem and the available evidence.
	Our assessment of concerns of a variety of types, including questions which come to our attention concerning accounts, involves evaluating the likelihood of a risk occurring and the potential impact on the charity and more widely. This is informed by our past casework experience. Using our risk and proportionality framework ensures that we prioritise our actions and target our resources where the risks are greatest.
	I hope this is helpful. I note that you are shortly meeting senior colleagues from the commission and I trust that you will find this meeting useful.

Children: Residential Homes

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will support Essex County Council's undertaking to adopt the social pedagogy model across all its children's homes; and whether they will consider the results when assessing the pilot schemes established by the Care Matters White Paper.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: The Government welcome the efforts of all local authorities who are working to improve the outcomes for looked after children. We are particularly interested in the social pedagogy model, which is why we are inviting local authorities across the south-east and the north-west to apply to be part of a Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) pilot programme to assess the impact of a pedagogic approach in English residential children's homes. The evaluation of the programme will examine the impact of the pilots, which are being designed to enable us to test the benefits of a social pedagogic approach in the English care system, and inform the longer term approach. We would of course also welcome further information and evaluation evidence from Essex to add to our learning from the pilots.

Common Agricultural Policy

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the remarks by the European Union Budget Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite, about the effect of the common agricultural policy on protectionism and on prices for European Union customers; and whether they will press for reform of the common agricultural policy or the repatriation of agricultural policy to the individual countries of the European Union.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the remarks by the European Union Budget Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite, that three-quarters of common agricultural policy payments go to 14 per cent of beneficiaries, many of whom are businesses and not farmers; and what action they will take regarding this situation.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Despite its huge cost, the common agricultural policy (CAP) is very inefficient at providing ongoing support to farmers. Market price support cost EU consumers around €34 billion in 2007, but the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates only 10 per cent of this reaches farmers in their capacity as farmers.
	Far reaching reform of CAP is a long-standing priority for the UK and we set out our vision for CAP in 2005. We want to see the elimination of Pillar 1 (all direct payments and market management measures) of the CAP by 2015-2020. Remaining expenditure would be based on the current Pillar 2 and rural development measures, including those targeted on protection and enhancement of the rural environment, would have a central rather than a peripheral role under a future CAP.
	We want to see an industry that is genuinely sustainable and that is internationally competitive without reliance on subsidy or protection. Farmers should be rewarded by the market for their outputs, not least safe and good quality food, and by the taxpayer only for producing societal benefits—particularly environmental outcomes—that the market cannot deliver.
	Defra is taking forward work to flesh out our vision for a future, environmentally focused Pillar 2, working closely with stakeholders and other member states.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the equity of a shared home, joint savings, and the income of a partner are considered as part of an application for legal aid in cases of domestic violence; and what support is available to enable victims of domestic violence to afford legal representation and advice.

Lord Bach: A person who is bringing a case against an abusive partner will be assessed for legal aid on their resources alone. The resources of a partner will not be considered. The victim's share of jointly owned assets, such as property or savings, will be considered in the assessment of means after taking into account whether they have access to or control of the assets.
	The LSC will normally waive all financial eligibility limits for legal representation for the victims of domestic violence. This measure improves access to legal aid for domestic violence victims by extending eligibility beyond the original limit. Any contribution from income or capital that is applicable under the regulations cannot be waived.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding was made available for anger management courses for perpetrators of domestic violence in each year since 2000.

Lord Bach: Funding for the delivery of accredited offending behaviour programmes in custody is built into prison baselines and it is not possible accurately to disaggregate the cost of this work. The National Offender Management Service is currently undertaking a specifications, benchmarking and costings exercise which will provide accurate costings of the interventions delivered.
	Probation Boards fund the cost of providing programmes for offenders in the community through their main grant. Data are available only on the allocation of funds to deliver programmes to offenders under probation supervision which is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
			 2005-06 77 
			 2006-07 85 
			 2007-08 86.5 
		
	
	There is no information relating to expenditure for years leading up to 2005.

Crime: Offences

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 24 April (WA 314) and the letter of 24 November from Lord Bach to Baroness Stern, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House, how many new imprisonable offences have been created by regulations since May 1997.

Lord Bach: There is no comprehensive system in place for tracking new offences created across Whitehall. The information below has been obtained from a manual trawl of legislation: key words were used to search a legal database for criminal offences created by regulations and orders for each specific year and the results were then analysed. Results do not include legislation from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the Channel Islands and may not be complete in respect of offences created through regulations.
	Approximate numbers of criminal offences created through regulations and carrying a penalty of imprisonment:
	
		
			 1997 (whole year) 34 
			 1998 9 
			 1999 22 
			 2000 34 
			 2001 19 
			 2002 11 
			 2003 25 
			 2004 45 
			 2005 112 
			 2006 37 
			 2007 98 
			 Total 446

Crown Dependencies: Independence

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their position on any move by one of the Crown dependencies towards independence.

Lord Bach: The issue of independence and constitutional reform is a matter for each of the Crown dependencies. The Government will always consider any suggestions as and when they are asked to do so by the respective island's government.

Cyclists: Helmets

Lord Krebs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the evidence on the effect of bicycle helmets in reducing deaths or injuries.

Lord Adonis: A review commissioned by the Department for Transport and published in 2002 (Bicycle Helmets—A review of their effectiveness, Road Safety Research Report No 30, available at: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/bicyclehelmetsreviewofeffect4726) concluded that overall there is evidence that bicycle helmets can be effective at reducing the incidence and severity of head, brain and upper facial injuries and that they can be effective in reducing injury for users of all ages, though particularly for children. The report also concludes that there is some evidence that compulsory helmet wearing may discourage some people from cycling, leading to decreased bicycle use.
	The department has recently commissioned a new research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues. This is now under way and is being undertaken by a consortium led by TRL and including MVA, ITS Leeds, Simon Christmas Ltd, SHM and Arup. It will examine the following topics:
	road user safety and cycling data;cycling infrastructure;attitudes and behaviours of cyclists and other road users; and bicycle helmets, including an updated evaluation of their effectiveness.
	The research project as a whole is likely to be three years in duration, but we are aiming to complete the review of cycle helmet effectiveness by the end of 2009.
	The department also undertakes periodic surveys of cycle helmet wearing rates. Last February we published the 2006 cycle helmet wearing survey. This shows that cycle helmet rates have gone up from 28 per cent in 2004 to 31 per cent on major built up roads and from 10 per cent to 14 per cent on minor roads. The wearing rate for children increased from 14 per cent to 18 per cent. The project report and the research summary findings can be found online at: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/cyclehelmets.pdf and www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme1/report84findings.pdf.
	We are holding a further such periodic survey in 2008, the results of which will be published in 2009.

Cyprus: Property

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are offering to United Kingdom citizens who have bought property in Cyprus but have not received their title deeds.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice for Cyprus, available on the FCO website, advises British citizens who encounter difficulties as a result of purchasing property in Cyprus to seek qualified legal advice on their rights and methods of redress. This would include difficulties in obtaining deeds to property to which the purchaser is entitled. Although the Government are unable to become involved with individual cases, our High Commission in Cyprus does support community associations in Cyprus that are dedicated to resolving the problems of property buyers, and gives details of those associations on its website, accessible via the Cyprus travel advice.

Cyprus: Property

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Cyprus over the practice of allowing developers to use title deeds of completed houses as collateral for future loans, with reference to Article 23 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.

Lord Malloch-Brown: Our High Commissioner in Cyprus recently raised the issue of title deeds not being supplied to purchasers on completion of a property purchase in Cyprus with the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of the Interior, and received assurances that the Cypriot Government intend to introduce a Bill to address this issue. The Government recognise that this issue has the potential to affect a large number of British citizens who have purchased property in Cyprus, and will continue to take a close interest in the measures by which the Cypriot Government attempt to resolve this problem.

Diplomatic Bag Service

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government which diplomatic missions overseas have a regular diplomatic bag service between London and the mission.

Lord Malloch-Brown: All diplomatic missions overseas receive a regular scheduled diplomatic bag service between London and the mission, which can vary in frequency depending upon the size, logistical difficulties and location of the post.

East Midlands Development Agency

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vadera on 12 November (WA 131—32), how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees were employed on average in each grade in 2002—03 and 2007—08 in the East Midlands Development Agency.

Baroness Vadera: All of the figures below are based on actual staff in post as at 31 March in each of the years reported. In 2002-03 the East Midlands Development Agency did not have a universal pay grade model, as staff had transferred from a variety of predecessor bodies. The grading model, approved by BERR, was introduced in 2004-05.
	
		
			  2002-032007-08
			 EMDA Full Time Part Time Total FTE Full Time Part Time Total FTE 
			 Chief Executive 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 
			 Deputy Chief Executive 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 
			 Directors 6 - 6 6 0 - 0 0 
			 Executive Director - - - - 3 - 3 3 
			 Operational Director - - - - 8 - 8 8 
			 Head of Team - - - - 18 - 18 18 
			 G - - - - 39 3 42 39 
			 F - - - - 40 3 43 41 
			 E - - - - 48 3 51 49 
			 D - - - - 20 2 22 21 
			 C - - - - 31 1 32 31 
			 B - - - - 21 8 29 26 
			 Other 142 7 149 145 2 - 2 2 
			  150 7 157 153 230 20 252 240 
		
	
	The main reason for the rise in staff numbers is because EMDA has taken on additional responsibilities over the five-year period. This has resulted in new posts, which in the majority of cases have been filled by the transfer of staff from their existing organisation. This has included the transfer of Business Links, East Midlands Tourism, the Modernising Rural Delivery Programme, and the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 and the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-2013.

Education: Land-based Diploma

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 3 November (WA 16—17), what arrangements are in place to ensure that the providers of land-based and environment diplomas have secured for each student the 10 days work experience promised by the Government as part of the course, and will be able to convey each student to the required location on the appointed days without having to use finance intended for other courses.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: Ten days' work experience is a mandatory element of the land-based and environment diploma. It is therefore a condition of funding that a provider or a consortium of providers delivering the diploma ensures that the work experience takes place. It is also a statutory requirement for schools to secure work experience placements for their 14-16 year old pupils. These are mainly arranged by Education Business Partnerships organisations.
	In planning diploma delivery, 14-19 partnerships and consortia must ensure that efficient and effective travel arrangements are in place to enable learners to access all elements of the programme including work experience. To support them in this task in each of the 40 most rural areas we have funded the post of Transport and Access Coordinator (at £75,000 per local authority for 18 months from September 2008) to allow these local authorities to investigate and arrange more effective and efficient transport for their young people accessing diplomas. We have also made funding available through the diploma formula grant to reflect the additional costs of travel between institutions in more sparsely populated local authorities. Details of how this funding was calculated can be found in the diploma grant guidance issued to local authorities and 14-19 partnerships in December 2007. This document can be accessed through the 14-19 education and skills website at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/ within the 14-19 funding section under diploma funding.
	This funding is in addition to the significant investment taking place across the 14-19 reform programme. This includes £30,000 given for each diploma being offered for the first time by a consortium in 2008 and 2009, and the central package of support offering training for the workforce (an investment of over £80 million in total in 2008-09). We also offer produce a range of guidance and fund local delivery support (for example, our successful series of learning visits).

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 11 December (WA 8), whether the absence of any reference to outgrowing embryos in the annual horizon-scanning reports produced by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) provides an accurate representation of the extent to which the Department of Health and the Medical Research Council were consulted by the HFEA on this matter.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 11 December (WA 8), why appraisal of data potentially relevant to Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) policy, originally published between 1979 and 1991, is ineligible for comment by the HFEA on the ground that it does not routinely provide such commentary.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 12 May (WA 109—10), whether it remains the case that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is aware of only one study in which contractions resembling a heart beat have been observed in mammalian embryos cultured in vitro; and, if not, which other studies are relevant.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 11 December (WA 8), whether the Department of Health would consider seeking the advice of the Medical Research Council if the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority cannot provide commentary.

Lord Darzi of Denham: As stated in my Written Answer on 11 December (WA 8), the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does consider a broad range of available evidence in the assisted reproduction field, as part of the statutory duty placed upon it by subsection 8(a) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. This requires the HFEA to keep under review information about embryos and any subsequent development of embryos and about the provision of treatment services and activities governed by this Act, and to advise the Secretary of State, if asked to do so, about those matters. The Government would seek the advice of the HFEA, as appropriate, on matters that have a bearing on its statutory duties.
	As I said in my Answer of 11 December, the HFEA does not interpret its duty to keep information about embryos and the development of embryos under review as a requirement to provide commentary on particular academic papers on request.
	On the subject of outgrowing embryos, an observer from the department was present at meetings of the HFEA's Scientific Clinical Advances Group when this topic was discussed. The HFEA has advised me that it has not consulted the Medical Research Council on this issue.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 19 March (WA 44) regarding signs representative of primitive streak formation being prevented by a lack of relationship between the trophectoderm and the inner cell mass, how this conclusion relates to data published in the journals Stem Cells (Volume 23, No 6, pages 805—816) and Biology of Reproduction (Volume 55, No 2, pages 254—259), whereby non-human primate embryonic stem cells grown at high densities were reported to exhibit behaviour consistent with early primitive streak formation.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The department has nothing further to add to the response of 19 March, as an embryo outgrowth is still not considered an embryo by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, nor would it develop if implanted in a woman.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 July (WA 243—45) and 11 December (WA 7—9), when the Department of Health would consider seeking the advice of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority regarding the efficacy of stem cell derivation from outgrown embryos.

Lord Darzi of Denham: The Government would seek the advice of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on any matter where its expertise as the national regulator of embryology matters would have a bearing.

Energy: Gas

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for Energy and Climate Change has made any assessment of the building of new gas-fired power stations.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are currently aware of 7.2 gigawatts of new combined cycle gas turbines capacity under construction. The Government published their overall assessment of future security of supply in its Energy Markets Outlook in October 2007, including scenarios for new generation capacity. This is available at http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/energymarketsoutlook/Page41839.html. The 2008 Energy Markets Outlook will be published shortly.

Energy: Gas

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the anticipated lead time for building new gas-fired power stations.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In the Government's Energy Markets Outlook, published in October 2007, we indicated that the lead time for a gas-fired power station could be expected to be around five years, including two years for design, planning consent, project planning and permitting, two years for construction, and six months for commissioning.

Energy: Light Bulbs

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the use of low-energy light bulbs in outdoor lighting; and whether they plan to restrict the candle power of outdoor lights available for sale.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Two measures under the EU's Eco-design of Energy-using Products Framework Directive have been agreed by member states that set minimum energy efficiency requirements on lamps placed on the market. Both measures are currently undergoing European parliamentary scrutiny before entry into force in the spring.
	A measure on tertiary lighting products includes minimum energy-efficiency requirements for street lighting lamps and ballasts, and will also effectively remove high-pressure sodium lamps from the market.
	A second measure on household lamps sets minimum energy-efficiency requirements on non-directional, domestic-use lamps, including halogen lamps commonly used in outdoor applications.
	There are no plans to reduce the candle power of outdoor lamps available for sale.

Energy: Renewables

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, on 15 September (Official Report, House of Commons, 2139W) and the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 12 November (WA 134), why the figures for the cost to the economy of the renewables obligation in 2004—05 are £3 million more in the former than in the latter; whether the consumer referred to in the first is the same as the household in the second; if not, what is the difference; and, if the two terms are effectively the same, why the figures quoted for 2005—06 and 2006—07 are different.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The figure for the cost to the economy of the renewables obligation in 2004-05 in the November PQ of £495 million is correct. The discrepancy with the figure of £498 million quoted in the September PQ is due to an error.
	The consumer in the September PQ is based on an average domestic electricity consumption figure quoted by Energywatch of 3,300 kWh per annum. In the November PQ it was based on a consumption figure of 4,400 kWh per annum which included average domestic and SME electricity consumption. This led to the higher figures in the latter for household costs. The correct figures are £5.87 for 2005-06; £7.35 for 2006-07; and £8.94 for 2007-08.

Energy: Severn Barrage

Lord Davies of Coity: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the maritime economy in the south west and south Wales of the construction of a Severn barrage.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: As part of a cross-government study to assess the feasibility of harnessing the tidal power of the Severn estuary, the Welsh Assembly Government and the South West of England Regional Development Agency have commissioned a high-level study to assess the potential impact of a Severn tidal power project on the economies of Wales and the south-west of England. Possible economic impacts on port operations in the Severn estuary are included in the study.
	A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is also being carried out as part of the feasibility study and includes work to examine the possible impact of power schemes on shipping navigation channels and water density.
	Subject to internal review, the economic impact study will be published as part of a public consultation on the power scheme options and SEA scope in early 2009. Options being considered include barrages but are not confined to them.

Energy: Wind Farms

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the supply of wind turbines and the challenges faced in building new offshore wind farms.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: On 10 December 2007, the Government announced the launch of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) on a draft plan for up to 25 GW (installed capacity) of new offshore wind farms by 2020. Depending on the results of the SEA and the magnitude of impacts identified, the Government will take a decision on what the acceptable level of offshore wind development is. The supply of offshore wind turbines required up to 2020 will partly depend on the outcome of the SEA and a future decision by the Government, expected in spring 2009, on the level of offshore wind generation, and on the size of turbines selected by developers for specific sites.
	The Government commissioned Douglas Westwood to assess the impact of supply chain constraints on the deployment of bulk renewable electricity to 2020. The study, published in June 2008, concluded that current demand outstrips supply for offshore turbines and that investment was required in expanding all tiers of the supply chain for offshore wind to meet Government objectives. We anticipate that certainty of market scale, location and timing will be provided through the SEA process and allocation of development rights for a pipeline of projects by the Crown Estate. We anticipate that providing this market certainty should trigger investment in new manufacturing and installation capacity for offshore wind in the UK and around Europe, including expansion by existing manufacturers and new market entrants who will come on stream in time for deployment to meet the 2020 target. This should reduce constraints on the supply of turbines to the UK offshore market, reducing lead times as well as reducing costs due to increased competition.

Energy: Wind Generation

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion they expect wind energy to contribute to the United Kingdom's energy mix by 2015.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government do not set targets on the proportion of renewable energy to be delivered by specific technologies; within the overall framework the Government put in place, the market will need to determine which technologies should be used and then to deploy them. However, an illustrative technology breakdown published alongside the consultation on our renewable energy strategy for meeting the UK's share of the EU target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020 includes 10 to 11 per cent of electricity generation coming from onshore and offshore wind farms by 2015.

EU: Emissions Trading Scheme

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Statement by Lord Myners on 20 November (WS 96—97), in respect of the auction for carbon allowances, what was the reserve price; what was the sale price of all of the carbon allowances sold; and, if the reserve and the sale prices were the same, whether the process was accurately described as an auction.

Lord Myners: On the 19 November 2008 the UK Government held the first auction of carbon allowances. The sale price (clearing price) was £13.61 (€16.15) per allowance. The reserve price set by the Government was below the clearing price. According to the Community Emissions Trading Scheme (Allocation of Allowances for Payment) Scheme 2008, section 19(2), the Government will reveal the reserve price only if the clearing price is less than the reserve price.
	As set out in the Government response to consultation on proposed UK auction design for use during Phase II, the Government will not provide full details of how the reserve price is calculated until after the first few auctions. The absence of a detailed published methodology ensures an unbiased price discovery during the initial auctions, so that participants do not use the reserve price to help set their bids. The reserve price is calculated by applying a discount rate and a markdown to the prevalent secondary market price.
	The business process employed to auction UK carbon allowances strongly resembles the widely accepted process used to auction Treasury Gilts. Moreover, in line with the Community Emissions Trading Scheme (Allocation of Allowances for Payment) Regulations 2008, the Treasury has appointed an independent observer to oversee any UK auction of carbon allowances.

European Humanities University

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to join other European Union Governments and the European Commission in providing financial support for the European Humanities University in Vilnius.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: Government resources available to support this type of institution are fully committed. However, we continue to keep the position under review and will look to see if, in future years, we can provide some financial support to this institution.

Europol: Staff

Lord Dear: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the number of United Kingdom nationals working at Europol is at a satisfactory level.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether postings of United Kingdom nationals working at Europol are treated as secondments or attachments, thus maintaining the service pension entitlements of the individuals concerned.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether steps have been taken to attract good-quality mid-service United Kingdom nationals to work at Europol to ensure that experience so gained is available to United Kingdom agencies upon their return.

Lord West of Spithead: There is a good representation of UK nationals working at Europol, with 42 people out of a current headcount of nearly 400. Of the 42 UK nationals working at Europol, 11 are from a UK law enforcement background. The Government are keen to encourage more law enforcement officers to apply for postings at Europol. However, under current regulations staff working at Europol have to be employed by the organisation and therefore to sign a contract of employment.
	The effect of this is that when our law enforcement officials want to work at Europol for an extended period, of typically four years, and are successful at the recruitment competition, they have to negotiate a leave of absence from their police force or agency. As a result officers are no longer able to continue to pay into their pension fund while they are working at Europol. We are currently in discussion with Europol and the European Commission to try to work out a resolution to this problem.

Forced Marriage

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh about introducing legislation which complements the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.

Lord Malloch-Brown: We continue to work with the Governments of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to tackle forced marriage and encourage them to take steps to prevent forced marriages taking place. These discussions cover a range of options, from awareness-raising and outreach work to possible legal remedies. We continue to work closely with these governments to provide effective consular assistance to British nationals affected by forced marriage.

Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government in the light of their statements about the safety of genetically modified crops, what assessment they have made of the paper by M Malatesta, F Perdoni, G Santin, S Battistelli, S Muller, M Biggiogera (2008) entitled Hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells as a model for investigating the effects of low concentrations of herbicide on cell structure and function (published in Toxicol In Vitro on 18 September 2008, 18835430), which shows that Roundup residues interfere with multiple metabolic pathways; and what measures they propose in the light of its findings.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The use of glyphosate ("Roundup") is not limited to genetically modified (GM) crops. Moreover, although some existing GM crops are specifically meant to be grown in association with the use of glyphosate, other types are not.
	Pesticides are extensively tested and subject to a rigorous evaluation process before being approved. Residues of pesticides in all crops are controlled by Maximum Residue Level (MRL) regulations and are checked against acceptable exposure levels.
	The study mentioned does not provide new information that would require the existing risk assessment for glyphosate to be revised. Published literature on pesticides is monitored and the Government would investigate further when information becomes available that questions the validity of existing risk assessments. That is not the case with this study.

Government Departments: Cultural Diversity

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much each government department has spent on sending staff to cultural diversity courses in the past year.

Lord Patel of Bradford: All government departments provide training on equality and diversity for their staff, whether through courses run by internal training organisations or attendance at externally run courses. Information on the costs involved is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Higher Education: Student Loans

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all United Kingdom-based students attending English and Welsh universities must take out a student loan.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: No. Government loans for tuition fees and living costs are not mandatory and eligible UK domiciled students may apply for tuition or maintenance loans as they wish. Student loans are affordable and designed to ensure that finance is not a barrier to higher education.

Higher Education: Universities

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students have university places this academic year; and what percentage of those are (a) mature students, (b) overseas students, (c) from state schools and (d) from public schools.

Lord Young of Norwood Green: The latest information is given in the table. The figures are taken from data collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) which are limited to students who apply to full-time undergraduate courses via the UCAS system. The figures do not therefore cover part-time students, nor those full-time students who apply directly to higher education institutions. It also does not cover students entering into postgraduate courses. Information on the type of school that these students attended is not available centrally.
	The latest information on the previous school type of entrants was included in Performance Indicators in Higher Education. This showed that in 2006-07, 87.2 per cent of young entrants to full-time first degree courses at English HEIs came from state schools or colleges.
	
		
			 Accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in 2008 as at 15 October 
			 Total accepted applicants 451,871 
			 Of which  
			 Aged:  
			 20 years and under 349,051 
			 21-24 53,339 
			 25 and over 49,481 
			 From:  
			 UK 400,314 
			 EU 21,180 
			 Non-EU overseas 30,377 
		
	
	Source: UCAS

Housing: Energy Efficiency

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will extend Warm Front approval to more authorised heating engineers, in particular all those who are Corgi registered.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Warm Front is currently undergoing an installer retendering exercise. This fully competitive and open tendering process will chose which installers should be selected to work on the scheme using criteria including, but not limited to, price tendered; health and safety procedures; customer service and; financial probity. Following these processes, successful bidders will start working on the scheme from June 2009.

Human Rights

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will distinguish rights the United Kingdom has signed and ratified in the Council of Europe and European rights it has not signed or ratified and from all other rights derived domestically (whether or not deriving from international instruments).
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (a) in the European Union; and (b) in the United Kingdom; whether its status has been affected by the United Kingdom's ratification of the Lisbon treaty; and whether the entry into force of that treaty will alter the charter's status.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the European Court of Justice applies the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; and what changes, if any, they envisage will arise from the European Union's intended accession to that Convention.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they consider that any further steps need to be taken to give effect to the Jordan cases considered by the European Court of Human Rights on procedural breaches of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights regarding state killings.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in Human Rights Act 1998, what assessment they have made of the effect of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the deportation or removal of foreign terrorists and criminals to their country of origin or any other country willing to accept them.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they consider that Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights needs to be developed to take account of trafficking.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have ratified the Fourth Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; whether they intend to incorporate Article 1 of the Protocol (prohibition of imprisonment for debt); whether persons may be imprisoned in the United Kingdom for not fulfilling contractual obligations; and whether that Article has implications for the law of contempt of court and the powers of judges.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they intend to replace the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice on the conduct of police officers investigating crimes with additional rights for criminal suspects.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they plan to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18; and whether they plan to restructure the youth justice system so as to treat young offenders outside a law and order model, including imprisonment.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they plan to (a) alter the law on trial by jury; (b) alter the law on admissibility of evidence in criminal courts; and (c) give witnesses, jurors, judges and lawyers rights to protection.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they plan to qualify Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (a) as regards private life or family life; and (b) as regards nationals and non-nationals, as a result of decisions made by the courts.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they plan to (a) extend the right to marry to include a right to divorce; and (b) add the right to enter a civil partnership, and to have it legally terminated, to the right to marry.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they plan to (a) extend the grounds of anti-discrimination law; (b) adopt a distinction between unfair discrimination and fair discrimination; (c) extend the option of reverse discrimination from the area permitted in the United Kingdom; and how these developments may be achieved in the context of European Union law.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the following are human rights: (a) indirect or direct political participation; (b) proportional representation for all elections; (c) involuntary coalitions for local government; (d) reverse discrimination to achieve equal participation of women and men; (e) public bodies being representative of society; and (f) electoral commissions.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether different levels of education should be directed towards the promotion of human rights, equality, dignity of the person, respect for diversity and tolerance.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have ratified the fourth protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; whether they intend to incorporate Article 2 of the Protocol (freedom of movement); if not, why not; and whether the free movement of persons, services and capital in the European Union applies within as well as between member states.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to amend or repeal laws prohibiting violence, exploitation and harassment and replace them with, or add to them, a new set of human rights; if so, whether such rights would prevent the minimum use of force in maintaining security and public order; and whether such rights would be given horizontal effect.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will (a) grant the right to be educated separately if one belongs to a linguistic minority; (b) arrange the provision of public services so linguistic minorities may use only their language of origin; and (c) incorporate the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages of the Council of Europe through the Human Rights Act 1998.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they intend to (a) create a right to access information held by public authorities; (b) create a right to administrative action which is proportionate and taken within a reasonable time; and (c) require public authorities to give reasons for their decisions, and to provide for reviews and appeals by members of the public.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, (a) they will create a right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; (b) they will prohibit doctors and nurses from refusing emergency medical treatment and essential primary healthcare; (c) they will provide appropriate healthcare and social services free at the point of use and within a reasonable time; and (d) gender-sensitive and appropriate healthcare for women and girls includes abortion.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they intend to (a) create a right to a standard of living sufficient for a person and their dependants; and (b) prevent persons from falling into destitution.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering introducing legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they intend to (a) create a right to adequate accommodation appropriate to a person's needs; and (b) create a right to appropriate emergency accommodation; and whether one can be evicted without an order of a court.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will (a) create a right to work, including the right to gain a living by work which is freely chosen or accepted; (b) create a right to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work irrespective of the status of the worker; (c) create a right to strike; (d) create a right to engage in collective bargaining; and (e) create a right to appropriate respite from working responsibilities for those in care.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will create a right to have the environment protected for the health and well-being of present and future generations; and whether they will implement the concept of justifiable economic and social development.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will create a right to social security, including social assistance, social insurance and a pension.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will (a) extend all human rights to children under the age of 18; (b) apply the principle of the best interests of the child to all dealings by public authority; and (c) prevent recruitment to the armed forces of 16 and 17 year olds.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in considering legislation for any rights in addition to those in the Human Rights Act 1998, they will (a) repeal sections 15 and 17 of the Human Rights Act 1998; and (b) prevent the United Kingdom making reservations to new international obligations.

Lord Bach: In view of the number and breadth of the questions posed by the noble Lord, I shall reply to him once I have collated the information relevant to his Questions.

Human Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Lord Bach on 15 December (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 635), whether they can give effect to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Hirst v United Kingdom by means of a remedial order under Section 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 rather than by primary legislation.

Lord Bach: In order to give effect to the Hirst (No2)judgment, it is anticipated that Section 3(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 would need to be repealed or amended either by primary legislation or remedial order. The Government will consider which legislative remedy is most appropriate once their proposals for implementing the judgment have been finalised following the second public consultation on this issue.

Immigration: Children

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the ages at first arrival, country of birth and last United Kingdom school attended (where applicable) of children who were held in an immigration removal centre for the greatest number of days in each of the past five years.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency does not keep central records for the country of birth and schools attended by children held in immigration removal centres.
	It is not possible to confirm the age of children when they arrived in the UK as it would rely on information provided by their parents which may not be accurate.
	The table attached shows the greatest number of days that any child has been detained in an immigration removal centre. All children were detained as part of a family unit.
	Data are not available for 2004.
	
		
			 Year (1 April—30 March) Number of Days detained 
			 2005 137 
			 2006 190 
			 2007 140 
			 2008 (year to date) 95 
		
	
	The average length of time that children are held in detention is, however, significantly lower, with most families being released or removed within seven days of being detained.

Immigration: Children

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the ages at first arrival, country of birth and last United Kingdom school attended (where applicable) of children who are currently detained in immigration removal centres.

Lord West of Spithead: The information requested is not held centrally and to try to establish it would be at disproportionate cost. Even then, the UK Border Agency might not be able to confirm dates of arrival as it may rely on the accuracy provided by the parents; neither does the agency routinely collect details of schools attended by children.

Immigration: Detention

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the amounts of compensation, legal fees, and costs of detention for periods found to be wrongful, incurred by the United Kingdom Border Agency or its contractors in respect of claims by asylum detainees in 2006, 2007 and 2008 to date; and, in the case of payments as a result of a court settlement and out-of-court settlement respectively, what were the amounts and the number of cases in each of those years in which the payment was in respect of (a) wrongful detention; (b) improper use of force or assault; (c) medical negligence; and (d) other harm; and in how many cases settled out of court the settlement was made on the basis of a confidentiality agreement.

Lord West of Spithead: The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only through examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Georgia

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 22 July (WA 264), what action they have taken to ensure that decisions by entry clearance officers of the United Kingdom Border Agency in Georgia comply with United Kingdom immigration law.

Lord West of Spithead: All entry clearance officers receive full training before taking up their postings overseas. Their decisions, including those approving the issue of a visa, are regularly reviewed by an entry clearance manager to ensure that they are correct and in accordance with the UK Immigration Rules.
	The allegations that Georgian staff working in the visa section at the British embassy in Tbilisi are involved in corrupt activities, as reported by Zuram Kachlishvili, are currently being investigated by the UK Border Agency's International Group (Operational Integrity Section).

Immigration: Georgia

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 22 July (WA 264), following the immigration and asylum tribunal decision in the case of Anna Zurabishvili, what assurances are to be provided to applicants for entry visas to the United Kingdom that action taken by them to exercise their rights under immigration law are not used by entry clearance officers in Georgia as grounds for refusal of entry into the United Kingdom.

Lord West of Spithead: All applications for UK visas are considered on their individual merits and in accordance with the Immigration Rules. An application will be refused only if the relevant requirements are not met, and all applicants who are refused a visa are advised of their appeal rights. The exercise of a right of appeal will have no bearing on the outcome of any future application that the applicant may lodge.

India: Orissa

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 19 November (WA 202), whether the attacks on those of other faiths by certain Hindu groups in Orissa State will be raised at the European Union—India human rights dialogue.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The next EU-India human rights dialogue is due to be held in 2009, though the date has not yet been fixed. We expect religious freedom and minority rights in India, including the recent attacks in Orissa State, to be included on the agenda.

Interception of Communications

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the comment of Sir Paul Kennedy, the Interception of Communications Commissioner, in his 2008 report that in times like these the Wilson Doctrine seems to me to be indefensible".

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I refer the noble Baroness to the Written Ministerial Statement given by the Lord President of the Council on 30 March 2006 (Official Report, col. WS 116). There is nothing further to add to this Statement.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the added value for individuals within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom from being empowered to have recourse to the United Nations Human Rights Committee under the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights so that they can rely upon the equality guarantee in Article 26 of the covenant.

Lord Bach: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is one of a number of similar avenues of redress under various UN instruments. In 2004, the UK acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Government published on 4 December 2008 the conclusions of a review of the operation of this protocol (Official Report, col. 11 WS). The findings suggest that the first three years of operation of the protocol have not provided sufficient empirical evidence to decide either way on the value of other individual complaint mechanisms. The Government will need further evidence, over a longer period, to establish what the practical benefits are.

International Economies: Germany

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to examine the effect on the German economy of high savings ratios, low credit card usage, availability of rental properties at modest rents and trade surpluses.

Lord Myners: HM Treasury monitors economic developments in key international economies on an on-going basis. This includes monitoring and analysis of the main factors affecting the German economy. This analysis feeds into our forecast for the global economy published in the Pre-Budget Report and Budget.

Iraq: Looting

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they or the European Union are providing to the Government of Iraq to recover items looted from Iraq's museums, libraries and archives during the invasion in April 2003.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In 2003 the UK introduced the Iraq (United Nations) Sanctions Order in response to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483. The order makes it an offence to deal in an item of Iraqi cultural property, if it was illegally removed from Iraq after 6 August 1990. The UK is also a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. This places an obligation on the UK to prevent the import of items looted from Iraq's museums and assist the government of Iraq to secure their return. The Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 also helps strengthen the law in this respect as it makes it an offence to deal in tainted cultural objects.
	In addition, the Government have secured the assistance of the UK art trade in locating and identifying material looted from Iraq. My department has also provided funding to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council for the creation of a website offering advice to anyone wishing to purchase art and antiquities, to help them avoid purchasing illegally traded cultural property www.culturalpropertyadvice.gov.uk.
	In September 2006, the Metropolitan Police formally returned to the Iraqi Government an 11th century manuscript and an ancient Aramaic incantation bowl, confiscated from illegal traders in 2003.
	The British Museum and others are working with museum colleagues and the British Army in Iraq on the protection of archaeological and other heritage sites and has, in the past, offered practical advice and assistance on the damage and scale of looting at the Iraqi Museum. The British Museum is also working with the British Army on its Operation Heritage Initiative which offers assistance to the Iraqis on the protection of cultural heritage.

Japan

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings they have held with the Government of Japan over the past two months.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The Government hold regular meetings with members of the Government of Japan on a wide range of issues, both in the UK and overseas. To provide information on the full range of meetings that have taken place at both official and ministerial level would incur disproportionate cost as the information is not centrally held.
	However, the following meetings have recently taken place:
	my honourable friend the Minister of State, Bill Rammell, held a meeting with Mitoji Yabunaka, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs on 9 October 2008 in London;my honourable friend the Minister of State, Bill Rammell, held a meeting with Kyoko Nakayama, Minister of State for the Abduction Issue on 11 November 2008 in London; andmy right honourable friend the Prime Minister met Prime Minister Taro Aso at the G20 Conference on 14 November 2008 in Washington.

Jersey

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have yet received the informal soundings promised by the Government of Jersey on the issue of a likely response to moves towards independence, as proposed by the second interim report of Jersey's Constitutional Review Group of December 2007.

Lord Bach: No such informal soundings have yet been received.

Kenya

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the threat to the Government of Kenya from recent incursions from Somalia and the ensuing violence in northern Kenya; and what diplomatic initiatives they have taken, or will take, on that matter.

Lord Malloch-Brown: We assess that the instability in Somalia is having a negative impact on some areas of Kenya's border with Somalia. There have been incidents of border incursions by Somali-based militia, kidnappings and unrest in the border towns of El Wak and Mandera. Extreme elements in Somalia have stated publically that should Kenyan troops cross the border into Somalia, they would retaliate.
	The Government have worked with the Kenyan authorities to improve security along the Kenya-Somalia border. We are also working closely with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and international partners to find a sustainable solution to the instability in Somalia.

Ministry of Defence: Future Business Unit

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the purpose, strength and budget of the Future Business Unit of the Ministry of Defence.

Baroness Taylor of Bolton: The Future Business Group of the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation manages technology research demonstrations, provides advice and assurance on the employment of new technology across DE&S and helps ensure that DE&S takes a coherent approach to the delivery of Urgent Operational Requirements.
	For the financial year 2008-09, the Future Business Group has a budget of £114 million available to support the conduct of demonstrations. Its current strength is 60 people.

National Probation Service: Discrimination

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 26 November (WA 324—25), whether any disciplinary action was taken by the National Offender Management Service in any of the five cases of alleged discrimination reported to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Lord Bach: One case has been raised with NOMS. It concerned an allegation that a probation area had never assessed the race equality impact of any of its employment policies, and was therefore in breach of its statutory race equality duty.
	As this is an on-going matter, the commission is not in a position to divulge information concerning a response to the complaint.
	In relation to the other four individual complaints, the commission does not normally pass on the information unless the individual concerned has specifically requested it to do so.

Nepal

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will press the Government of Nepal to establish a commission to investigate the 49 disappearances from the Kathmandu army camp and other recent disappearances allegedly carried out by the security forces and Maoist groups, following the 25 June agreement to carry out such investigations.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will encourage the Nepali Human Rights Commission to announce the results of the investigation by forensic experts in Finland into the 49 disappearances from a Kathmandu army camp.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will press for further investigations of the human remains allegedly found at Shivapuri National Park in Nepal.

Lord Malloch-Brown: We will continue to take every opportunity to remind the Government of Nepal of the need to implement the Supreme Court's order to criminalise enforced disappearances and establish a Disappearances Commission in line with international standards as soon as possible. We have also encouraged the Government to live up to their commitment to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, based on consultation with victims and civil society. Impunity for previous human rights abuses continues to be one of the major challenges for the new Government of Nepal. During my visit to Nepal in July 2008, I encouraged the Government to live up to their responsibilities and promises to defend human rights, provide justice to victims of human rights abuses and prosecute those who have broken the law.
	We have stressed to the Government of Nepal that in seeking to tackle impunity it will be important to show action in high profile and emblematic cases such as the disappearances in 2003 of 49 people from army custody in the Maharajgunj barracks. This is an essential step towards preventing future violations and building a society where the rule of law is respected. Where investigations of this nature are carried out, we believe it is important for the results to be made known in a transparent and structured manner so that the public can have confidence in the process.

Olympic Games 2012: Lorries

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many lorry movements to and from the Olympic site in East London have been made and are projected to be made.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The number of lorry movements to and from the Olympic site to the end of 2008 will be approximately 200,000. From 2009 to mid 2011 there will be approximately 600,000 lorry movements to and from the site. The ODA is looking to bring at least 50 per cent of materials, by weight, to the Olympic Park by sustainable means such as rail and water.

Palace of Westminster: Cyclists

Lord Colwyn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what area is covered by the cycle parking exclusion zone around the Palace of Westminster (excluding buildings owned by the Parliamentary Estate).

Lord West of Spithead: The cycle parking exclusion zone around the Palace of Westminster is a matter for Westminster City Council.

Palace of Westminster: Cyclists

Lord Colwyn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the risk posed by cycle bombs in the vicinity of the Palace of Westminster; and whether there have been any fatalities or serious injuries caused by cycle bombs in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

Lord West of Spithead: We are aware of 31 reported incidents, five of which have occurred within the United Kingdom, involving the use of improvised explosive devices disguised as or hidden upon bicycles that have taken place between August 1939 and June 2008. The highest reported number of fatalities resulting from one bicycle improvised explosive device is 22. The most recent incidents involving a bicycle bomb in the UK were on 13 August 1994 in Brighton and Bognor Regis. The incident in 2008 was in Pakistan and resulted in five deaths.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many United Kingdom passport holders hold (a) one United Kingdom passport, (b) two United Kingdom passports, and (c) the passport of another country.

Lord West of Spithead: The information requested is not available. The normal policy of the Identity and Passport Service is for any individual to hold only one UK passport. A second passport may exceptionally be issued where there is a demonstrated need to hold two passports for business travel or to allow travel between incompatible countries. Information about second UK passports is held only in individual records and a total is not available.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many United Kingdom passport holders also hold a Pakistan passport.

Lord West of Spithead: The information requested is not available. Although applicants for British passports are required to send in any uncancelled passports with their application, including any foreign passports held, these are returned after identity has been confirmed and no statistical record is kept.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many United Kingdom passports were issued by United Kingdom diplomatic missions overseas in each of the past five years.

Lord Malloch-Brown: The number of passports issued by United Kingdom diplomatic missions overseas in each of the last five year was as follows:
	2003-04—447,409;2004-05—452,901; 2005-06—449,164; 2006-07—416,731; and2007-08—375,715.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they impose restrictions on United Kingdom nationals holding passports issued by other countries.

Lord West of Spithead: In line with the fact that the British Nationality Act 1981 contains no restrictions on British nationals additionally holding other nationalities, no restrictions are placed on British nationals holding passports issued by other countries.

Pensions

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the effective average employer's percentage contribution to public sector pension schemes; and what would it be if those schemes were fully funded on the lines of a private sector scheme.

Lord Myners: Information is not held centrally across public sector pension schemes to calculate an overall average employer contribution rate, which would in any case be misleading, as it would, for example, combine unfunded pay as you go schemes with funded schemes that have investment surpluses and deficits. Questions about the details of schemes would be for those responsible for the individual schemes.

Pensions: Taxation

Baroness Noakes: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Statement by Lord Myners on 8 December (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 252) that the Government have no plans to adversely change the taxation of pensions, how that Statement relates to their proposals in the Pre-Budget Report to cap the lifetime allowance and the annual allowance at a cost of £400 million a year by 2011—12.

Lord Myners: The Government introduced a streamlined and simplified regime for the taxation of pensions on 6 April 2006. As part of that regime, tax relief, estimated to be worth around £30 billion in 2007-08, is given to incentivise saving for a pension.
	Pensions tax relief for individuals is limited by annual and lifetime allowances that were pre-announced from their introduction in 2006-07 until 2010-11. The then Financial Secretary to the Treasury also announced that those allowances would be subject to quinquennial review and the Pre-Budget Report 2008 sets the rates for the next five year period, from 2011-12 to 2015-16.
	As with all areas of policy the Government keep both the system of relief for pension contributions and the taxation of pensions under review.

Police: Custody

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals over the past 24 months have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police, detained for nine hours or more and released without charge.

Lord West of Spithead: The number of individuals arrested by the Metropolitan Police in 2005-06 was 200,029, this figure increased during the financial year 2006- 07 to 220,258.
	Data collected by the Home Office does not include figures for individuals detained for less than 24 hours; however data are available for those detained for over 24 hours and subsequently released without charge.
	In 2005-06 97 individuals were detained for over 24 hours and up to 36 hours and subsequently released without charge by the Metropolitan Police; for this year the number of individuals detained for more than 36 hours is not available.
	In 2006-07 230 individuals were detained for over 24 hours and up to 36 hours and released without charge by the Metropolitan Police; a further six individuals were detained for more than 36 hours.

Police: Minority Groups

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 26 November (WA 330), why grant-in-aid is paid to the British Association for Women in Policing and the National Association of Muslim Police.

Lord West of Spithead: The Government's vision is to have a police service that has the trust and confidence of all communities and that reflects the communities it serves.
	Grant-in-Aid is paid by the Home Office to the British Association of Women in Policing (BAWP) and the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP), to support the work they do towards delivering this vision.

Political Parties: Donations

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 26 November (WA 304), how many donations were given to political parties in each of the past three years (a) above £9,999, (b) between £5,000 and £9,999, and, (c) between £2,000 and £4,999.

Lord Bach: The Government do not collect information on the number of political donations. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 requires registered political parties to submit quarterly donation reports to the Electoral Commission, listing all donations received during the previous quarter above the reporting thresholds. These are £5,000 in the case of a central party and £1,000 in the case of one of its accounting units. Information on the number and level of donations received by political parties is publicly available via the commission's website.
	The commission does not hold information on donations received below the reporting thresholds identified above. Donations received above these thresholds are grouped in bands according to their value. The first such band groups all reportable donations below £25,000. I have asked the commission to write to the noble Lord providing further data on donations in the form in which they are held. The commission will place a copy of their letter in the libraries of both Houses.

Prisoners: Deportation

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign prisoners are detained after their sentence has expired whilst awaiting deportation; and how many were so detained two years ago.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign prisoners detained after their sentence has expired whilst awaiting deportation are held in prison; and how many in immigration removal centres.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have put in place over the past two years to reduce the amount of time foreign prisoners who are to be deported spend in custody after their sentence has expired.

Lord West of Spithead: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in order to provide all of the most robust and accurate information relating to the deportation of foreign criminals. These letters include information on the numbers of such individuals who have been either deported or removed, the numbers of those held in detention and information relating to the improvements to the deportation system, which has led to record numbers of foreign criminals being deported each year since 2006.
	Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.

Prisoners: Mental Health

Lord Howie of Troon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners in England and Wales were on suicide watch or special observation as a result of severe mental illness, including depression, in each of the past five years.

Lord Bach: Information on suicide watch or special observation as a result of severe mental illness is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Prisons have a broad, integrated and evidence-based suicide prevention strategy. A prisoner focused care planning system for at risk prisoners, called Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork, (ACCT), was introduced across the prison estate between 2005 and 2007 in partnership with the Department of Health. Its key benefits include:
	a faster first response and assessment;the provision of flexible, individual, accountable care; anda multi disciplinary approach.
	As part of the ACCT process decisions are taken about how the individual will be managed to reduce the risks that they will harm themselves, including the frequency of conversations and observations. Levels of observation will differ in each case and will change over time. Constant supervision is a temporary arrangement where a prisoner is supervised by a designated member of staff on a one to one basis, remaining within eyesight at all times and within a suitable distance to be able to physically intervene quickly. It is required when it is believed that the prisoner could, at any time. make an attempt to kill themselves.
	Acute suicidal crisis may be temporary and the case management approach afforded by ACCT provides the opportunity to reduce the level of supervision progressively, substituting alternative supports. as the prisoners' condition improves.
	While not being able to answer the specific question posed, I can provide information on the numbers of ACCT plans, (and its predecessor), which were opened in each of the past five years.
	
		
			 Measure 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 
			 Total Plans opened 34091 29583 31371 28463 29666 
			 Total Individuals 26749 22544 23386 21137 22236

Prisoners: Voting Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce legislation in relation to the ban on voting by convicted prisoners, having regard to the declaration of incompatibility made by the Scottish Registration Appeal Court in Smith v Scott [2007] SC 345 under Section 4 of the Human Rights Act 1998 in relation to the ban on voting by convicted prisoners.

Lord Bach: As the noble Lord is aware, the Government have undertaken the first stage of a two stage consultation on the issue of prisoners' voting rights. While mindful of the Smith case, the Government must arrive at a solution that is best for the UK, and, to that end, remain committed to carrying out a second public consultation. It would be premature to introduce legislation before the second consultation has completed.

Prisons: Titans

Lord Hanningfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the list of sites for the first three Titan prisons; whether they intend to purchase compulsorily the necessary land for their development; and when they expect to start construction work in each of the locations.

Lord Bach: We are currently undertaking a search for potential sites for prison clusters ("Titans") within the north-west, the West Midlands and the south-east, but have not yet confirmed or purchased any sites. Details of these will be published in due course.
	Land required for prison development can be purchased by agreement or compulsorily. Normally we seek to purchase land by agreement. We intend to follow the normal planning route and will hold pre-application consultations with the relevant planning officers, local councillors and other interested parties prior to submitting planning applications.
	The first prison cluster is planned to become operational by late 2012, and up to a further two by 2014. However, no construction work will commence until planning permission has been obtained and the procurement process is complete.

Public Bodies

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government which non-departmental public bodies, commissions and agencies receive Government sponsorship or funding.

Lord Patel of Bradford: All public bodies publish annual reports and accounts which contain detailed information on funding and expenditure. The annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies provides information on total Government funding of non-departmental public bodies. Public Bodies 2007 can be downloaded from www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Public Bodies 2008 will be published shortly.

Railways: St Pancras Train Shed

Lord Berkeley: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 29 September (WA 300-01), to what extent the Answer took into account (a) the disapplication of Section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and whether this disapplication was rescinded on completion of the works at St Pancras as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project; and (b) the normal powers of the 1990 Act, including those of the local authority under Section 38 to issue a listed building enforcement notice in respect of any such works.

Lord Davies of Oldham: My Written Answer did not take into account the disapplication of Section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conversation Areas) Act 1990 because it did not need to. This disapplication was only for the construction period of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and that period has passed. My Written Answer referred to the current position with regard to the St Pancras train shed and not the position during the construction phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project. Thus I can confirm that the normal powers of the 1990 Act now apply.

Recycling: Household Waste

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with local authorities the expansion of the number of receptacles for recycled household waste.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government believe local authorities are best placed to make decisions on the waste management strategy for their communities.
	To ensure local authorities have the best information possible to inform them when making their waste management decisions Defra funds the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to provide guidance and to share best practice. The service offers local authorities in England operational, communications and waste prevention advice, skills training and some funding for local communications activities.

Recycling: White Goods

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will include smaller consumer recycling programmes for large household white goods such as refrigerators.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Arrangements for recycling of large household white goods are already in place. Since July 2007, producers of electrical and electronic equipment have been funding the collection, treatment and recycling of this type of equipment. A network of about 1,500 designated collection facilities—mostly at local authority civic amenity sites—is accepting waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for recycling. Some retailers will also accept back items on a like for like basis or take away old equipment when they deliver a new item. During the first compliance period which ran from July to December 2007, 184,000 tonnes of household WEEE were collected for recycling.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is currently running a consumer awareness campaign about the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). This is focused specifically on small items of WEEE, because this is where the greatest collection deficit lies at present: the UK only collects 10 per cent by weight of all small WEEE purchased, whereas for all WEEE (including large white goods), the UK collects 25 per cent by weight of all items purchased. WRAP will look to extend the scope of the campaign from April 2009 onwards.
	WRAP has recently completed a demonstration project, showing that plastics from the UK's collective producer responsibility (CPR) scheme can be recycled back into new WEEE products (closed-loop recycling). This uses recycled fridge plastics to make new parts for washing machines at Indesit in Wales. Indesit has now incorporated this change into its production processes permanently.

Royal Mail

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will include provision in any legislation on the Royal Mail to give them power to prevent outside minority investors from seeking a majority of share capital or voting rights.

Baroness Vadera: The Secretary of State said in his Statement on 16 December that his department will want to study the report in detail and he would respond with a full statement of government policy in the early part of next year. Until this work has been done it would not be appropriate to say what specific provisions will be included in legislation.
	The Bill will be consistent with the Government's commitment to keep Royal Mail publicly owned.

Rural Payments Agency

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Farming and the Environment, Jane Kennedy, on 24 November (Official Report, House of Commons, 833W), (a) how many administrative staff were employed by the Rural Payments Agency; (b) how much was paid out under the common agricultural policy; and (c) how many complaints were dealt with, in each year from 2005.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: (a) The following table sets out the number of staff employed by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for the past three years.
	
		
			 Financial Year No 
			 2005-06 4,592 
			 2006-07 4,467 
			 2007-08 4,297 
		
	
	These figures include all RPA staff directly employed, contractors and agency staff.
	(b) The following table sets out the expenditure paid out under the common agricultural policy for the past three years which includes schemes administered by delegated bodies and excludes devolved administrations.
	
		
			 Financial Year £ million 
			 2005-06 2,411.7 
			 2006-07 2,247.8 
			 2007-08 1,979.7 
		
	
	(c) The following table sets out how many complaints have been dealt with for the past three years.
	
		
			 Financial Year No. 
			 2005-06 1,396 
			 2006-07 2,569 
			 2007-08 1,149 
		
	
	Financial years cover the period 1 April to 31 March.

Schools: A-levels

Lord Quirk: To ask Her Majesty's Government in the three most recent years for which figures are available, what percentage of the primary school pupils identified as the most talented at key stage 2 (a) were entered in due course for A-level examinations; (b) achieved two or more A grades at A-level; and (c) were accepted for places in higher education.

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: Of those pupils who took at least one GCE A-level in 2008 and are recorded as attaining Level 5 in English and Maths at Key Stage 2, 36 per cent1 gained 2 or more A grades at A-level. The remaining information will incur disproportionate cost to produce.
	1 This analysis covers pupils who took at least one GCE A-Levels (it does not include VCE or equivalent qualifications) in 2008 for which we have Key Stage 2 results. This analysis will therefore exclude some pupils with high attainment at Key Stage 2, who for whatever reason did not do A-Levels in 2008. It also only includes approximately half of pupils who took Key Stage 2 tests at independent schools in 2001 for which we do not have complete coverage of their results.

Shipping: Broadcasting

Lord Dykes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following a recent incident off the west Wales coast involving a shipping vessel broadcasting inadvertently, they will introduce measures to prevent smaller vessel owners from mixing maritime radio transmissions, thereby endangering other shipping.

Lord Adonis: It is not possible to introduce measures that would prevent incidents of re-transmission of non-maritime radio transmissions on maritime frequencies, whether caused inadvertently or deliberately.
	Such occurrences are rare, and as in this case, the problem can be quickly resolved, using existing coastguard procedures.

Shipping: Irish Lights

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are legal or constitutional reasons why they cannot give the Republic of Ireland notice that they (a) wish to withdraw from the 1985 agreement on the funding of the Commissioners of Irish Lights; and (b) no longer wish to subsidise navigational aids in the Republic.

Lord Adonis: There are no legal or constitutional reasons. Both Governments have accepted the need to update the arrangements for funding of Irish Lights. We are continuing negotiations aimed at reaching a new agreement.

Shipping: Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what savings would be achieved if the three lighthouse boards were amalgamated.

Lord Adonis: We do not believe that amalgamating the three general lighthouse authorities (GLAs) into one authority would offer major additional savings.
	The GLAs work together to drive down costs and have been proactive on reducing overhead costs where they can. In recent years, the GLA fleet has reduced from nine to six vessels and the number of depot sites from nine to four. These reductions have been significant, ensuring that light dues rates have not increased since 1993.

Shipping: Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of the boards of the three lighthouse authorities are paid more than (a) £50,000, (b) £70,000 and (c) £100,000 per annum.

Lord Adonis: The information for 2007-08 is set out below:
	
		
			 General Lighthouse Authority Board members paid more than £50,000 but not more than £70,000 Board members paid more than £70,000 but not more than £100,000 Board members paid more than £100,000 
			 Trinity House None 3 1 
			 The Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses None None None 
			 Commissioners of Irish Lights None 1 4

Shipping: Navigation Aids

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional contributions, if any, they will require from ships entering United Kingdom ports to the General Lighthouse Fund to make up for the fund's investment performance and changes in the exchange rate between the pound and the euro in respect of the subsidy paid to the Irish Government for marine navigation aids.

Lord Adonis: Over the past year the General Lighthouse Fund has suffered from falls in investment income and adverse movement in the exchange rate between the pound and euro. These will be among the factors the Secretary of State for Transport will take into account in the annual review of funding before determining the light dues payable by ships calling at UK ports. A number of options, both to reduce costs and raise additional income, will be considered to ensure that the three general lighthouse authorities are properly funded to deliver their essential service.

Shipping: Navigation Aids

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what studies they have undertaken into alternative governance models for the organisations providing navigational aids, including having an independent economic and safety regulator and creating a not-for-profit distribution company to manage the General Lighthouse Fund and specify and commission service providers.

Lord Adonis: No such studies have been undertaken.

Shipping: Navigation Aids

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what subsidies are paid by ships entering United Kingdom harbours to maintain the navigation aids in the territorial waters of (a) France, (b) Belgium, (c) the Netherlands, (d) Germany, (e) Denmark and (f) Norway.

Lord Adonis: No charges are imposed on ships entering UK harbours to meet the costs of aids to navigation in these other countries.

Taxation: Interest Rates

The Lord Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the reduction of the Bank of England base rate to 2 per cent, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs will reduce the various rates of interest on late payments of tax.

Lord Myners: HM Revenue and Customs recalculates its interest rates following any rate change in line with procedures laid down in legislation. The legislation sets out how the rates for various taxes and duties should be calculated and when they apply from. In accordance with the legislation the rate of interest charged on underpaid instalment payments of corporation tax changed from 4 per cent to 3 per cent on the 15 December. All other rates will reduce in accordance with the legislation on the 6January 2009. The rate of interest charged on underpayments of the main taxes will reduce from 5.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent.
	On the 17 December 2008 new legislation was put in place to enable HM Revenue and Customs to change faster its rates of interest following a movement in market rates. From 7 January 2009 most rates will change 13 working days after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. Under previous legislation it took around a month to change most of the rates.

Telephone Prizes

Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will have discussions with the Office of Fair Trading with a view to banning the circulation of alleged winning prizes which invite the public to spend money on telephone calls to establish their claims to prizes of little real value.

Baroness Vadera: This type of prize draw scam has already been banned by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which came into force on 26 May 2008.
	The regulations prohibit traders in all sectors from using misleading, aggressive and other unfair commercial practices. The regulations also prohibit 31 specific practices outright. These include
	"Creating the false impression that the consumer has already won, will win, or on doing a particular act win, a prize or other equivalent benefit, when in fact either: (a) there is no prize or other equivalent benefit, or (b) taking any action in relation to claiming the prize or other equivalent benefit is subject to the consumer paying money or incurring a cost".
	The Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services have a duty to enforce the regulations.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 24 November (WA 277—78), what are the minimum dimensions and weights of the improved near side mirror systems required under Directive 2007/38 to be fitted to lorries first registered after 2000.

Lord Adonis: There are no minimum dimensions and weights for the improved mirrors. While the mirror lens must have a minimum radius of curvature, the overall dimensions will depend upon a number of factors including the vehicle design and height of the mirror from the road surface. However, we would expect the overall mirror dimensions to be in the region of 200mm x 200mm and the weight between 1.0 and 1.5kg.

UK Border Agency

Baroness Stern: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the reply by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 4 June (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 150), what changes they have introduced to ensure that there is proper monitoring of contractors by the UK Border Agency.

Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency has increased the number of staff involved in monitoring the contractor's performance in the management of the short term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport. In addition, agency staff make daily visits to the facilities to carry out welfare checks.

Working Time Directive

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated annual cost to the British economy of ending the opt-out from the European Union Working Time Directive.

Baroness Vadera: The UK is one of 14 member states that enables workers to opt-out of the maximum 48 hour working week, should they wish to do so. This flexibility is used by over 3 million employees in the UK who choose to work longer hours. Loss of this opt-out would therefore cost the UK billions both in costs to industry and lost earnings. As a result, it could also only have a negative impact on overall employment levels.
	The Government remain committed to fight for the continuation of this important flexibility and will be calling on the European Council to reject the damaging amendments on the Working Time Common Position adopted by the European Parliament.